Field Trips
If you are considering bringing a large class or group to visit, please review the FAQs and download our Field Trip Request Form using the links below.
Field Trip FAQs
Field Trip Request Form
Making History Fun!
Our goal at Oconee History Museum is to make history relevant and engaging for your students. Our staff will provide a guided tour of the museum exhibits and a supplemental activity of your choosing. We will make every effort to cater our tours and activities to best meet your curriculum standards and learning goals.
What you will see in the museum…
When you visit the Oconee History Museum you will see a variety of artifacts illustrating the history of Oconee County. Our main attractions are our two dugout canoes found in local rivers that date back to the late 1700s. We also feature a replica of Stumphouse Tunnel, a 1930s-era Tenant Farmer’s house, and much, much more! We also recommend allowing us to coordinate multi-site field trips with our neighbors the Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina and the Oconee Military Museum at Patriot’s Hall. We will provide a customized rotation schedule so that students can visit all 3 museums in 1 field trip.
The General Store Museum
The General Store Museum is the Oconee History Museum’s first satellite location! The museum uses the original contents of England’s General Merchandise Store of Westminster to create the General Store Museum. The museum also features exhibit space that focuses on the history of Westminster and the surrounding areas. Students will learn what community life was like for people living in early 20th century Oconee County.
Supplemental Programs
We offer a wide variety of supplemental educational programming to enrich the student’s experience at Oconee History Museum and align with South Carolina Social Studies curriculums and STEM initiatives.
- How Does My Garden Grown? During this activity students will learn the importance and basics of farming and agriculture. (K-4th) STEM
- Quilting Bee. An activity for children to learn the history and importance of quilts, as well as artistic expression. (K-4th)
- Appalachian Folklore. In this activity we will tell a folk story or two from the Appalachian region and learn about how people use folklore. (K-4th)
- Life in the Southern Cotton Mill. In this activity, students will learn what it was like growing up in a mill village in the South. In our hands-on activity segment, we will divide student’s by jobs in the mill to create a working weaving room. (2nd-8th) STEM
- Household Engineering. Our ancestors didn’t have it so easy when it came to household duties. Students will experience how household technology has changed over the years with hands-on experiences. (2nd-8th) STEM
- The Great Canoe Rescue/ Experience Oconee. This two media presentation features the comprehensive history of Oconee County by a historical interpreter in Experience Oconee as well as the discovery of our two dugout canoes in The Great Canoe Rescue. (3rd-8th)
- MapQuest. In this activity students will learn the history and importance of maps, as well as enjoy a little competition to find places and geographic features on a map of Oconee County. (3rd-5th)
- All Aboard…Students will learn about the history of railroads in Oconee County and their importance. Students will work in teams to construct a railroad bridge so the Blue Ridge Railroad train can get to its destination. (3rd-8th) STEM
Download our Curriculum Guides for more information on the curriculum we cover during your visit to Oconee History Museum.
City Tours
Oconee History Museum also offers walking tours of Walhalla, Westminster, and Seneca. Tours feature historic photos contrasting past and present town features, historical overviews of the town and its development, and a look at architectural features and changes that provide clues to the past.
We are also more than happy to visit your classroom for fun, interactive lessons on topics of your choosing!